Make We Careful Foundation: Meet the Team Behind COVID-19 Pidgin PSA

A group of professionals recently came together to form the Make We Careful Foundation, whose goal is to school the Nigerians with access to the radio about the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping through the world.

About why they are, the team said:

“We’re a volunteer group of Nigerian private sector individuals with backgrounds in business, advertising, and entertainment. And we are giving our time freely in the fight to stop COVID-19 (or coranavirus as it is known locally) from destroying Nigeria by running a public enlightenment campaign.”

“Anecdotal research across the country shows that the common man grossly underestimates the threat of COVID-19. For example, they feel that since Ebola killed very few people, despite all the fuss that was made about it, then why would “coronavirus” kill them?

But if Nigerians don’t understand that their lives are in danger, they will not cooperate with a nationwide lockdown. And they will not follow the WHO public health advise on how to prevent COVID-19.

Yet, COVID-19 can spread rapidly amongst the Nigerian poor because they live in high density environments with poor sanition, no running water and healthcare. If, because of misinformation and misbeliefs, “coronavirus” is allowed to take hold in Nigeria it will be (as we say around here) a disaster of biblical proportions.”

About what they are now doing, the team said:

“We’ve embarked on an ambitious mission to create a nationwide public enlightenment campaign across a range of communications platforms. Our initial focus was to create fun, engaging, public service announcements for radio, using Nigerian pidgin English, in which we explain coronavirus symptoms as well as giving a range of coronavirus tips e.g. how the virus is tranmitted and practical advise on handwashing.